Semi-Trucks in Summer: Fend off the Sun

It’s been a cool spring for a lot of us in the northern part of the United States. While it might be hard to imagine the blazing heat of summer right around the corner while we’re still batting off spring blizzards, rest assured, it’s coming. Meteorologists are predicting a summer every bit as extreme as the winter we’re still trying to say goodbye to. And you’re going to be ready for it!

So, what do you need to do to prepare? Well, you’ll need to stock up on supplies. This blog is going to walk you through protecting similar surfaces – custom leather seats and your face. Don’t laugh! They are really fundamentally made of the same material, aren’t they? That’s right.

Protect Your Semi-Truck Seats:

– When your truck is parked, make sure you’re blocking sunlight. This can be accomplished a few ways. Maybe invest in a nice, custom semi-truck sun visor that drops low enough to cast shade on the inside of your cab. You may also want to buy a few of the sun blockers people use on personal vehicles and throw them up on the inside of the truck when you’re not in it. That way, the light won’t have a chance to get in and blast your leather.

– Buy conditioner specifically for protecting leather seats. This will really come down to your personal preference and your budget, but this is going to be the most reliable way to prevent splitting and drying out on your leather. Think of it as sunscreen for your seats.

– Never apply conditioner or wipe down semi-truck seats with paper towels. The reasoning for this is that, even when finely processed, the materials used to make up paper towels are rough (wood, generally). Rubbing the paper against the seat will create teensy micro-tears that may grow over time. If you can’t afford a microfiber cloth, an old tee shirt works very well in its place.

Protect Your Face:

– Do you guys remember this? Last year, ABC News ran a story on a trucker whose face looks photo-shopped down the middle. A lack of sun protection has left the poor guy wrinkled and at a high risk for skin cancer on the side of his face closest to his window. If that doesn’t convince you, nothing will.

– Wear Sunscreen. Okay, we know you’re truckers, not debutantes with strict moisturizing routines. That’s why we did some research for you and found these. Sunscreen wipes! Just keep ‘em in your console and rub one over your mug before you start your day. Think of how much that’ll pay off over time!

– Always wear at least SPF 30 during the day. Always. No excuses.

– Adopt a debutante’s moisturizing routine. Okay, we’re (mostly) kidding. But, just like there are wipes for sunscreen, there are also wipes for cleaning and moisturizing your face before bed. A good routine will keep you looking fresh and youthful while also fending off melanoma. We say that’s worth the teasing.

Ultimately, we just want you to use good judgment. Keep a pair of sunglasses handy. This will prevent fatigue and degeneration of your vision. Keep your interior sun visor down to cast shade on your face. Make sure your seats aren’t becoming stiff or beginning to rip.

2 Responses

I as a rule, keep my sleeper curtains closed while driving, as well as my visors down.This allows me to control the temperature in both zones at comfort levels more easily as your working with a smaller space.Your fridge/cooler doesn’t have to work as hard, and that chocolate bar you forgot on the shelf won’t go liquid.